Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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“Man, this is gonna be trouble. They’re already backed into a corner, and you’re gonna go for the kill again?”
“That’s right.”
Whether it’s desperation or wariness, they need something solid to hold onto.
And I’m going to exploit that state of mind.
“Hmm, too bad, but I couldn’t pin down whatever else they might be planning.”
I’d expected as much.
If their countermeasures were out in the open from the start, Elias wouldn’t have let it slide.
“That makes sense. They can’t be dumb enough to let the government catch every single countermeasure…. If they were, it’d just be a smokescreen anyway.”
Leo chimed in, thinking along the same lines.
But Elias was still grinning slyly.
“However.”
“However?”
“There’s juuust a little hole in their armor.”
Elias wetted his finger and flipped through the pages rapidly.
“Here.”
I read the densely packed text on the page he opened.
It was a ledger.
Not one linking guest identities with transactions, but a real accounting ledger. And not the kind submitted to the government, either….
“What’s it say? Total sales of 55 million fel?”
Leo asked in disbelief.
Annual total sales of 550 million won. Since they staffed it with human trafficking victims, labor costs were minimal, leaving operating profits around 450 million won—a ridiculous margin.
Elias responded to Leo.
“This is just one establishment. Not the entire Primrose Path network.”
I knew that. The note classifying the venue from the prosecution was pinned to the top of the ledger.
An amount like this confirmed it was their real internal ledger.
They pretended not to break any laws on the surface.
That’s why they filled the books with liquor sales revenue, excluding prostitution earnings. Jumping from pitiful annual sales in the low millions—worse than a regular restaurant—to tens of millions was proof of their illegality.
Leo let out a hollow laugh.
“They got raided for something this crucial? Damn….”
“They burst in and swept everything up, so those guys couldn’t do a thing. We should praise Günter for it.”
Elias flipped to the next page.
“Look. Right one week before the seizure, funds got transferred out all at once.”
“Almost half of it.”
“Yeah. In one day, 25 million fel went to the place marked ‘&*’. And this venue here on the following page had yearly operating profits of 30 million fel, but two weeks ago, 10 million of that got sent to ‘Central’ in a single day.”
There was definitely a control tower.
Why ship out a third of profits needed to run this year’s operations?
It meant they couldn’t freely use the money they earned.
They’d scraped together everything last year—minus what was essential for current ops—and sent it off.
“The destinations are all jumbled, but it’s super fishy, right? Especially since that chairman Luca mentioned seems the most likely to have ordered it.”
Leo nodded.
“Yeah, it’d be harder not to notice something off here. What do the prosecutors say?”
“We didn’t eavesdrop on their conversations~ though we couldn’t. Of course, they’ll investigate this too. I know because they issued summons to all the business owners.”
Fat lot of good that’ll do. They’re all puppet bosses.
They’ll just parrot “I don’t know anything” and head home.
Seeing Elias’s expression—tinged with a slight sneer—he thought the same.
It’d be nice if they could use divine power, but prosecutors don’t like mages using it, seeing it as encroaching on their duties. Legally, we can’t get involved in investigations without the key decision-maker’s approval anyway.
‘Of course, I could just go to the Emperor.’
He’d listen to me for now.
Elias spread his fingers as he spoke.
“Alright, let’s break it down among ourselves first. Number one?”
Elias crooked a finger at me.
Everyone turned to look at me simultaneously.
“…You want me to say it?”
“Yeah! Who else but you, Luca.”
“First off, it could’ve gone to Pleroma.”
“Oh. Good point. Number two?”
“The raid might’ve been foreseen. Though if they foresaw it two weeks ahead, the issue is they should’ve prepared thoroughly enough not to get caught at all—not just grabbed the cash.”
“True. So~?”
“…….”
I pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Central’s prepping a new venture. One that requires substantial capital.”
“Ah~ Crystal clear. So, Luca.”
Elias leaned toward me.
“If we just figure out what that business is, we’re golden, right?”
* * *
Right.
Topple that, and we’re done.
Just then, Leo stopped by Bayern and brought a letter from the palace, along with word that the prosecutorial interrogations were over.
“Haha… I’ll be back!”
“Yeah….”
Elias pouted as he replied.
The moment I nodded, Elias bolted to uncover the business, only to get dragged back to the hospital room by Leo.
Instead, Narke—who could use divine power—came with me to the prosecutors’ office.
‘Where’s this kid getting his confidence from?’
“Haha, Elias loves investigating~ Probably enjoys it more than any of us.”
“Fair enough.”
I chuckled lightly in response.
‘…? Hold on.’
It hit me about 30 seconds later that he’d casually responded to my inner thoughts. Right then, Narke—who’d been walking ahead—stopped and peered outside.
“Guards at the gate. With imperial folks still coming and going from the academy, warp’s probably not blocked yet….”
Narke turned to me.
“Don’t wanna warp?”
“Nope.”
Narke ignored my answer as usual.
“Didn’t notice when you swapped Leo’s uniform earlier. Sorry. Best to walk out, then.”
“What’s there to be sorry about? Walking might draw suspicion anyway. It’s fine….”
Narke stroked his chin, then snapped his fingers.
“Lucas. Wanna go out disguised as Leo or Elias?”
No shapeshifting.
It could backfire. If someone spots the “departed” person roaming campus, it’d blow up the already chaotic school even more.
“Warp’s fine. Let’s just go.”
“…….”
Narke stared at me, then smiled.
“But it’s not~ Wanna do it like old times?”
“Huh.”
“Like when you fell from the clock tower—I’ll carry you, you just close your eyes~”
“No.”
“Hmm, too bad. How about this?”
Narke snapped his fingers, and black mana cloaked my face. The moment I saw my robe darken too, he grabbed my wrist and surged mana into me.
“…….”
“Kay?”
I slowly opened my tightly shut eyes at his word.
Narke was grinning, waving one hand casually.
‘…Huh.’
My feet were on the ground.
And I recognized the place.
It was the imperial palace warp checkpoint.
I let go of Narke’s hand and stepped back.
No one was visible, but someone hit us with an amplification spell.
[Excellency Ernst, Excellency Farneses. You may enter.]
“…….”
I nodded curtly and headed down the path beside the checkpoint.
I’d swapped my uniform for formal attire earlier, just draping an academy robe over it—decent enough, thankfully.
Narke, quick on the uptake why I hadn’t spoken, cast a distortion spell.
―“Thanks.”
―“Too soon for this method, huh? Your heart’s pounding like crazy.”
―“You can tell?”
―“Haha, anyone could.”
How would anyone know?
As I thought that, Narke pointed to my chest.
―“Your mana. It’s so unique, impossible not to notice. Careful.”
―“Oh? Thanks.”
―“Oh? Didn’t know? Yulia too with your….”
Narke trailed off mid-sentence.
―“What about Yulia.”
―“Haha, nothing~”
Before I could press, someone spotted us and hurried over. His attire marked him as one of the Emperor’s mages.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Yes. How’s the investigation?”
“As reported to Bayern, Chief Prosecutor Erich Liv and Superintendent Christina Herringgen are in direct contact with Primrose Path. No Pleroma links among them.”
“Just those two?”
“For now. Actually, Chief Prosecutor Erich Liv was the one who closed the Primrose Path case initially….”
So no surprise there were only two.
Fair point.
“Oh, today’s events are confidential. His Majesty said not to cut them down immediately.”
“Understood.”
Cutting them now would just raise alarms.
Especially once Pleroma’s in play—we need to tread carefully.
Sweeping Pleroma at once would tip them off that “the Emperor’s identified Pleroma politicians and plans to purge them,” buying them time to fortify.
“Then, if you could just verify the rest against our assessment.”
“Got it. Where are the chief prosecutor and superintendent?”
“They’ll meet you soon, so we moved them to another room.”
I nodded and followed him for the final check.
About 30 minutes later, I stepped out feeling refreshed.
‘They did a solid job.’
No Pleroma ties, no Primrose Path anomalies.
With Narke along, it went much faster.
I headed to where the mage from earlier was waiting.
“This way. We’d give more time, but prolonged spells risk brain damage—10 minutes max for the interview.”
“Understood. See you in 10.”
I replied curtly and shut the door.
“Alright….”
I scanned the two prosecutors’ faces as I spoke.
‘Looks like the other mages went harder than me.’
No sign of human rights in this interrogation method.
Layer upon layer of mind manipulation spells—they were practically asleep. Without their shoulders fixed to the chairs, they’d have collapsed.
“Let’s begin.”
I tapped the desk, and their fingers twitched.
I opened the interrogation records I’d received. Most questions were already answered.
“You know the ‘chairman’ at Primrose Path is a big deal.”
The problem: per the records, that’s all they knew.
With only 10 minutes, questions had to be precise.
How to play this.
‘Business.’
New business. Expansion.
‘And it seems capital-intensive….’
Possibly used for lobbying.
But starting with capital was unwise.
“If Primrose Path’s business expansion succeeds, you’d get a bigger cut. With so much profit at stake, even non-Pleroma folks like you pushed to drop it from the investigation list.”
“…….”
“Or have you already been paid?”
Both reacted.
Reading answers from finger twitches felt weird, but time to get used to it.
I snapped my fingers, lifting the spells.
“…Huh?”
“Ah, feeling better?”
Narke glanced at me.
Time to bluff verbally again.
“Thugs presumed Primrose Path affiliates attacked you, sir. You’re in the hospital now. I’m here on a support request for this case.”
“…Ah….”
“You were furious, having been backstabbed by people you trusted. Shocking, really. After all you’d done for them, they try to kill you over complaints…. That stabbed shoulder must hurt bad.”
I trailed off, watching their faces.
They furrowed brows, lips parting and closing repeatedly—more flustered than doubtful.
“…Fine. I heard Primrose Path is prepping a new business. With hefty lobbying sums at play, this investigation must’ve caused issues.”
“…Even so…. I did my best….”
“Of course you did, sir. So, what field is this new venture in? Can you tell me?”
“It won’t pass.”
I exchanged looks with Narke.
The chief prosecutor muttered, brow twisted.
“At this point, I’ll block it. Who do they think…. One letter and….”
“What’s the business field?”
“Haven’t heard details, but it’s those guys… Probably the usual.”
“Then, who will you write to?”
“Just looping in my juniors and seniors on the Federal Committee ends them. After all I’ve overlooked, now this….”
Definitely.
Not Pleroma—just Primrose Path bribe-takers. Betrayal comes swift.
Pleroma ties would’ve tangled motives; a simple murder attempt wouldn’t sway them like this.
Anyway….
I smiled as I spoke.
“Legislation pending, I take it?”
“It hasn’t even passed committee. I was gonna push it through….”
“Think it’ll pass?”
“As if. I’ll stop it.”
I’d gotten everything from these questions.
One thing left for me.
“Excellent. Thanks for cooperating.”
* * *
[Federal Committee February Session Postponed Indefinitely]
Narke shoved the newspaper in front of us.
A clean headline, no fluff.
“Wow… the backlash on this is gonna be nuts~”
Elias rustled the paper with a cold smile.
Yeah.
The backlash had to be massive.
The Emperor had blocked the Federal Committee session with his authority.
They were the enemy, but with his son’s safety on the line, it was easier this time.
‘The downside is it shows imperial power strong enough to manipulate the assembly at will….’
Not important now.
Key point: Primrose Path’s new business needs legislation, and that won’t happen anytime soon.
“Guess they’re finally crawling out from underground.”
Leo muttered.
“Probably. Alright, time to prep our infiltration.”
“This blocks their plan for good~?”
“Nope. Now they’ll scramble for an out, so they’ll move again.”
But I’d promised the Emperor we’d comb the assembly.
No escape for them. Not that they know yet.
“No time, so run two identities in parallel. Let’s brainstorm new ones.”
Business and legislation.
Hit their needs with those two.
What identity would stick?
“Luca, how about an investor? Honestly, I wanna watch.”
“Not what you wanna do?”
“Nah! It suits you. You look like a bookworm, perfect for playing moneybags. Nothing else fits.”
Why’s Elias the arbiter of what fits?
What image does he have of me….
Leo shook his head.
“Sure, but a model student turned businessman wouldn’t throw cash at Primrose Path—he’d pick legit spots. Elias, you’re right about Lucas’s looks. A clean-cut guy approaching a raided venue to invest? Suspicious as hell.”
Narke’s eyes lit up.
“What if I go in~?”
“Same for you. You don’t look like some thoughtless rich kid either. …Someone else, maybe.”
“Honored~”
Leo shot Elias a glare at that. Elias laughed heartily and snapped his fingers.
“Or a politician connected to Federal Committee members? If not, aide or nephew role ain’t bad.”
Narke chuckled back.
“Hey, that works. But what if Primrose Path investigates~?”
“Brainwash ’em right on entry.”
“…….”
I gave a wry laugh, and Elias pivoted.
“Or a mobster dying to work there.”
“Plenty wanna work for a collapsing joint…. No future in illegal ops like this—they’re prepping escapes as is.”
“Haha, and from Primrose Path’s view, zero help. To meet the chairman, need someone with real impact, right?”
“Sure, but no one’s got actual pull~? That’s why investor’s best.”
Elias laid out his plan to Leo and Narke.
I tuned into their chatter, lost in thought.
“Gonna have to play the wastrel.”
The moment I spoke, conversation halted.
All eyes turned to me. Elias glanced around, saw everyone staring, then fixed on me.
“…….”
“Huh?”